10 Best and Worst Excuses for Missing Work

Not-So-Smart Excuse: I Have a Personal Emergency

This one is so vague that it rarely works. It could mean anything from fatigue to an appointment with your hairdresser, and your boss knows it.

The Takeaway

Don’t lie, no matter which excuse you use. “I’m not a believer in playing hooky, because it always comes back to you,” Nierenberg says. “Don’t lie to your boss, your supervisor or your clients. You’re guaranteed they will be the ones you’ll run into while you’re walking down the street in your jeans.”